Emmanuel Clase, the Cleveland Guardians reliever who is one of the league’s top closers, was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of a sports betting investigation, Major League Baseball announced on Monday.
Fellow Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz is already under the same parameters. The league initially sidelined Ortiz on July 3, and then extended his leave after the All-Star break.
“We have been informed that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted,” the Guardians said in a statement. “The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate.”
Clase, 27, had been one of the more popular trade candidates this month, with plenty of contenders seeking bullpen reinforcements. He led the American League in saves each of the last three seasons and finished third in the voting for AL Cy Young in 2024, thanks to a 0.61 ERA.
The Guardians sit on the periphery of the playoff chase in the AL, with a 52-53 record. They’re eight games behind the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers and 3 ½ games out of a wild-card spot.
In a statement, the league said it will not comment further until the investigation is complete. Rule 21d(2) in the MLB handbook states: “Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
Rule 21d(3) states: “Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.”
The pitchers are permitted to have contact with the organization, but are prohibited from visiting Progressive Field or any other Guardians facility. Ortiz has been working out at a training complex on the west side of Cleveland.
The two pitchers occupied adjacent lockers in the Guardians’ clubhouse in spring training and bonded over their passion for chickens and horses on their farms in the Dominican Republic.
The Guardians traded for Ortiz in November in a three-team arrangement that sent Gold Glove Award-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays. They traded for Clase in December 2019 in a deal that shipped two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers.
Clase missed the 2020 season because of a suspension for PEDs. Since then, however, he has been one of the sport’s premier handlers of the ninth inning. He became the franchise’s all-time saves leader last season, at just 26 years old.
Clase’s contract made him even more appealing to other teams. He is signed for $4.9 million this year, $6.4 million next year and then has a pair of $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028.
Ortiz is under team control through the 2029 season. He’s earning the league minimum of about $760,000 this year.
(Top photo of Emmanuel Clase: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
